This poll covers the number of deities (if any) you personally think exist and how strongly you consider that number is valid. It does not cover how you act, believe, or think toward yourself, others, or the world in general.

Examples;

1. Gnostics and agnostics

For the purpose of this poll, gnostics claim knowledge and agnostics say knowledge is not possible. Note that this form of gnosticism is different from the gnostic mystery religions!

Someone who knows for a fact that a god came here in a UFO and is the only god, and someone who knows for a fact that the God of Abraham is the one true and only god would both answer Gnostic Monotheist. Next year, if both became uncertain -- did not know for a fact -- they would both become Agnostic Monotheists. In each case, they would not likely share much else.

2. Agnostic theists

Someone who does not claim knowledge in a deity is possible would be an agnostic. The same person may also be an atheist, or any of the theists (monotheists or deists or ...). Religious beliefs are not the same as claims to definitive knowledge of the correctness of those beliefs.

Reason why they are; The OT talks about other gods and does not disallow them from being possible ... just not to be worshipped. As such, the followers of the Abrahamic religions should acknowledge that other gods exist (if theirs does) and then state that they worship one even though that is the case. (One or a pantheon of co-mingled gods depending on sect.)

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Smart people believe weird things because they are skilled at defending beliefs they arrived at for non-smart reasons. --Michael Shermer

The history of religion is a long attempt to reconcile old custom with new reason, to find a sound theory for an absurd practice. --Sir James George Frazer

I hate to pick nits, but as I have said in other threads, I'm a bit anal about one point: agnosticism is not "I do not know", but rather "It is impossible to know". I am an agnostic atheist: It is impossible to know for certain whether a god exists, but I don't believe there is one.

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I stopped believing for a little while this morning. Journey is gonna be so pissed when they find out...

I hate to pick nits, but as I have said in other threads, I'm a bit anal about one point: agnosticism is not "I do not know", but rather "It is impossible to know". I am an agnostic atheist: It is impossible to know for certain whether a god exists, but I don't believe there is one.

I hate to pick nits, but as I have said in other threads, I'm a bit anal about one point: agnosticism is not "I do not know", but rather "It is impossible to know". I am an agnostic atheist: It is impossible to know for certain whether a god exists, but I don't believe there is one.

Agreed. I knew it when I wrote it. Huxley's definition is correct (he coined the word).

So, knowing what I know, why did I use the wrong definition?

I'm trying to keep the number of options down. The list is over 20 items long now, plus a few throw-aways. There are (???) agnostics that are less absolute on the possibility of knowing. If I were to use the word "impossible", I'd be cutting out those that are less interested in if it is possible or not.

Adding in another flavor would expand the list by 5 options...something I almost did this time to accommodate all versions of Henotheism (though I gave them the shaft and only have one option for Hentotheists).

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Smart people believe weird things because they are skilled at defending beliefs they arrived at for non-smart reasons. --Michael Shermer

The history of religion is a long attempt to reconcile old custom with new reason, to find a sound theory for an absurd practice. --Sir James George Frazer

FWIW: I'm JustMe from the old board and from ATT. I dragged my feet getting an account on the new system, and someone else picked JustMe here.

Hermes is more unique. More unique is better.

The mythology on Hermes is interesting. I have a series of books from Joseph Campbell and there are a few mentions of him. From Homer;

Quote

"For then she bare a son, of many shifts, blandly cunning, a robber, a cattle driver, a bringer of dreams, [15] a watcher by night, a thief at the gates, one who was soon to show forth wonderful deeds among the deathless gods. Born with the dawning, at mid-day he played on the lyre, and in the evening he stole the cattle of far-shooting Apollo on the fourth day of the month; for on that day queenly Maia bare him."

I am gnostic towards most but agnostic towards at least one.One can hold different views with regard to different definitions of god.

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What is life?It is the flash of a firefly in the night.It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime.It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.Crowfoot's last words, 1890

I am gnostic towards most but agnostic towards at least one.One can hold different views with regard to different definitions of god.

Agreed. I chose my answers based on an absolute sense; agnostic atheist and ignostic atheist. I'm willing to have some of the more absurd deities explained to me in such a way that they aren't bat _hit crazy.

Yet, if one definition of a deity is shown to make sense on some level that does not all the sudden drag on the BS versions of the same deity for free.

For example;

Theist: "Do you believe in love?"

Me: "Believe? No. Love is real. It can be detected in an MRI."

Theist: "God is love! When you feel love, that's God!"

Me: "And nothing else?"

Theist: "Nope. Just love. Nothing else."

Me: "Good, then by definition I think that that specific god exists."

Theist: "Fantastic! You're now a Born Again Christian! Here's a Bible! Praise Jesus! A miracle will occur in your life and you won't go to Hell!"

Me: "Er ... no. You've just swapped words around and made them meaningless."

Theist: "You do believe in love, don't you?"

Me: [facepalm]

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Smart people believe weird things because they are skilled at defending beliefs they arrived at for non-smart reasons. --Michael Shermer

The history of religion is a long attempt to reconcile old custom with new reason, to find a sound theory for an absurd practice. --Sir James George Frazer

Unfortunately, the forums here were reset a while ago...and the votes in that poll were wiped. From memory, I think it was up to about 120~140. Not valid as research, but for these forums not bad either.